Motorola Razr: why we love this flipping legend

By Luke HopewellApril 3, 2020

In a world where smartphones often look similar, Motorola is back to change the game once again, and show us all how a phone can be more than just a featureless slate. Say “hello, Moto” to the new Motorola Razr.

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It’s a style-icon reinvented

The original Motorola Razr V3 from 2005 redefined what phones could look like. No longer were they grey, unmemorable bricks. Motorola showed us our phones could be just as stylish as our other accessories, with funky colours, brushed metal finishes and applications we’d never seen before.

Now in a sea of black rectangles, Motorola is back to blow our minds all over again with a vertical folding smartphone. It’s the perfect intersection between a flip phone of old and smartphone of tomorrow.

And just like the original, it’s back with more nifty features to change how you use your phone.

It has nifty features inside and out

When it’s open, the Razr is an awesome entertainment, productivity and connectivity tool. But when it’s closed, it’s still just as handy. While fully-closed, the Razr’s 2.7-inch external Quick View screen allows you to complete your tasks without even flipping it open.

The Quick View display allows you to read notifications, play music and even take selfies.

The camera works even more intelligently when you open the device, with smart composition, portrait mode and cinemagraph working hard to make your photo and video capture easy.

And it’s loaded with smart engineering throughout, even packing in an app that lets you simulate the old Razr V3 from 2005! Hello, Moto indeed.

It’s an ultra-convenient companion

Weighing in at 205g and folding up to an incredibly pocketable 94mm, the Razr is the perfect phone to carry when you don’t want to carry one at all.

It seamlessly slides into your pocket, with barely a bulge to speak of. And thanks to the Smart View screen, it doesn’t need to be unfurled every time you get a notification.

Availability

We’re proud to be the exclusive carrier for the new Motorola Razr in Australia.

The Motorola Razr is available from today with all of our new simplified mobile plans. You can add on the device for $112.45 per month on a 24-month contract. Min cost from $3,898 over 24 months on the $50 plan and may change if month to month plan price changes.

Check out our hands on video to see the Motorola Razr backflip right into your heart.

Luke Hopewell is an editor, tech expert and Senior Specialist Writer at Telstra Exchange. Luke joined Telstra in 2019 where he has had the privilege to help bring stories to life in a unique and human way. He was previously the head of editorial at Twitter Australia and the editor of cult tech site Gizmodo. For over a decade, Luke’s passion for technology has always driven him to seek out the latest gadgets and game-changers, and help others to understand how it all works. In another life he was a cyber security specialist where he sought to educate people about how to stay safe online. When he's not writing, he's getting outdoors and patting all the nice dogs he meets.

Making self-service easy with the new My Telstra app

By Jenni BarnettMarch 31, 2020

We’re all relying on connectivity now more than ever. Many of us are working and learning from home, and we’re having to connect with each other online rather than in person. To help you interact with us online more easily, we’re ramping up our digital capabilities as a priority – so you can get the help you need to get connected and stay connected.

We’ve just launched our new My Telstra app which is designed to be a one-stop-shop for all your Telstra needs. We have also created a number of self-service videos to help you with your basic service needs. The new My Telstra app helps make self-service, billing and tech support a lot easier.

You can manage your services and payments, get help, check for outages and track orders – all while you’re at home.

My Telstra availability

We’ll be progressively updating the existing Telstra 24×7 app so you can expect to see it on your phone soon.

If you have auto-update enabled, you do not need to take any action. Your current Telstra 24×7 app will update to become My Telstra when it’s time.

If you don’t have auto-update enabled, go to the App Store or Google Play and update to My Telstra.

If you don’t have the Telstra 24×7 app now, you’ll be able to download the My Telstra app via the Google Play or App Store.

Here’s what you can do with the new My Telstra app to get quick and easy resolutions during this busy time.

Tech support

We know that waiting on the phone to solve a tech issue can be frustrating. That’s why we’ve packed My Telstra with a series of “troubleshooting” guides. Issues with things like your smartphone or nbn connection can be fixed quickly and easily.

Billing enquiries

The My Telstra app is designed to help you solve billing issues without having to jump on the phone to one of our contact centres – particularly at the moment when call centres have reduced staffing levels due to COVID-19 impacts.

With the My Telstra app, you can easily query a charge on your Telstra bill; request a payment extension; recharge your Pre-Paid service and manage our payment options including setting up Direct Debit.

Outages, faults and orders

The new app also allows you to get information on outages currently in your area and those scheduled to occur via routine maintenance. You’ll find out when the outage will end and updates throughout.

You can also report faults on your line via the app, to get service and information without having to contact our call centre.
Staying up to date with orders is easy in our app, you’ll be able to track orders, activate a SIM card and access guides to help you get connected.

A better way to Telstra

From billing fixes through to tech support on outages, devices and slow internet, My Telstra is a great way to get a fix without having to pick up the phone.

The new My Telstra app will be in the hands of our four million current app users over the next two months, making it easier to get what you need from Telstra at home or on the go.

Jenni is a senior executive with a 20+ year background in digital transformation, marketing and product management, across Telco, Financial Services, Tech and not for profit.
Jenni joined Telstra in August 2018 and is Head of Digital. Her role is to accelerate the impact of Digital to meet customer needs and deliver on Telstra’s T22 strategy and beyond. She is accountable for digital and digital assisted channels including app, web, social and community, search, chat bots and messaging; the digital P&L; the digital intelligence ecosystem; and transforming customer experiences in digital and across channels.
Prior to Telstra, Jenni was one of the execs to establish the well-known market leading digital team at the Commonwealth Bank and take it from a start up to a high performing commercial and customer focused channel in less than four years. Jenni was accountable for digital sales, service and product development, conversational commerce and personalisation capabilities across channels, and digital publishing. She has worked in scale Agile environments for 7+ years and is a highly regarded contemporary leader.

The Samsung S20 range is here, and we’ve ripped off the wrapping to learn all about it. We took the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G out for a spin, and we’re blown away by what it can achieve. Here’s why it’s the smartphone-sized pro camera of your dreams.

It has a whopping 108-megapixel pro-grade camera…

Samsung says that the S20 range is “designed to change photography”. The S20 range certainly changes what we thought was possible with smartphones.

That 108-megapixel sensor is one of the largest we’ve ever seen in a smartphone before, and it’s what makes the incredible zoom possible.

The sheer size of the sensor gives you more pixels across an image, meaning you get a larger image overall. That means you can snap a shot and pinch in to see details right up close.

And a larger image sensor means it’s capturing more light at night, and a revamped Pro mode means you can customise a shot to your heart’s desire.

…with a huge 100x zoom…

The S20 Ultra 5G has a number of zoom levels, including the 10x Hybrid Optic Zoom. Its real party trick, however, is 100x Space Zoom.

Space Zoom really makes that 108-megapixel sensor shine. Samsung says it’ll take you from the back of a room to on-stage in a click, and it really means it.

When we were testing the S20 Ultra 5G, it was a snap to go from a wide shot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to seeing the flag fill the display at 100x zoom.

The overhauled camera software even comes with a target viewfinder so you can hunt out specifics in an image at zoom, making sure you never miss a detail.

And most importantly, thanks to a range of cameras on the S20 Ultra 5G, zoom looks great at a bunch of different magnifications, including 2x, 4x and 10x.

…and 8K video to boot…

You’ve heard of 4K – with video quality 4x as crisp and clear as high-definition – but Samsung’s new flagship is here to leap ahead, with incredible 8K video capabilities. That’s right: the S20 Ultra 5G’s incredible camera is not just capable of taking beautiful photos, it supports 8K video recording!

On top of astounding quality and stabilised shooting, the S20 Ultra 5G makes sure you don’t miss a thing, thanks to the ability to select 33-megapixel stills right out of an 8K video. So if you’re recording your kid’s baseball match, you can record them hitting the game-winning home run, and have both a high-resolution video and high-resolution still to mark the moment.

It also supports a range of other high- and ultra-high definition recording formats with high frame rate capabilities to make video buttery smooth on playback.

…powered by Australia’s best 5G!

We continue to roll out Australia’s best 5G to more and more cities and regional centres, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra is built to access the incredible speeds our network has to offer.

How to get one

The whole Galaxy S20 range will be available for both outright purchase and via our 24- and 36-month payment terms.

Outright

MRO24-months

MRO 36-months

Samsung Galaxy S20 128GB (4G)

$1349

$56.20

$37.47

Samsung Galaxy S20 128GB (5G)

$1499

$62.45

$41.63​

Samsung Galaxy S20+ 128GB (5G)

$1649

$68.70

$45.80

Samsung Galaxy S20+ 512GB (5G)

$1899

$79.12

$52.75

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 128GB (5G)

$1999

$83.29

$55.52

As for the Z Flip, we’ll be confirming the pricing and release date shortly.

Exclusive Telstra pricing

For a limited time, Telstra consumer and small business customers who purchase the Samsung Galaxy S20 or Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G on a 24 or 36-month plan will receive a $150 credit, applied to their bill. This offer is available from 6 March to 3 April 2020.

Additionally, Telstra consumer customers who add a new Samsung device onto their month-to-month plans will net themselves up to 80,000 Telstra Plus points if they redeem online. For all the details, visit Telstra.com.au/plus. This offer is available from 12 February to 31 March 2020.

And finally, any customer who pre-orders any Samsung Galaxy S20 device (S20, S20+ or S20 Ultra) will receive the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ (in white). This offer is available during the pre-order period only from 12 February to 5 March 2020, and customers will have until 12th April to redeem their bonus Galaxy Buds+ via the Samsung website.

* 5G: Telstra currently offers 5G in selected areas and is progressively rolling it out to other areas. To find out more about Telstra 5G, check here or ask in store.

Luke Hopewell is an editor, tech expert and Senior Specialist Writer at Telstra Exchange. Luke joined Telstra in 2019 where he has had the privilege to help bring stories to life in a unique and human way. He was previously the head of editorial at Twitter Australia and the editor of cult tech site Gizmodo. For over a decade, Luke’s passion for technology has always driven him to seek out the latest gadgets and game-changers, and help others to understand how it all works. In another life he was a cyber security specialist where he sought to educate people about how to stay safe online. When he's not writing, he's getting outdoors and patting all the nice dogs he meets.

Getting the right gear for tough-as-nails rural coverage

By Janet BarnesFebruary 21, 2020

We’re always working to improve our network in rural areas, but did you know that not all phones are created equal when it comes to coverage? If you’re going bush – or need a phone that can stand up to the elements when you’re there – we’ve got you covered.

Making it easy with Blue Tick

We’ve got all the latest and greatest smartphones on our network, and we make sure they’re rigorously tested before we stock them. The devices that perform the best in tough coverage areas are awarded our highest honour: the Blue Tick.

Our coveted Blue Tick signifies that a mobile device has been thoroughly tested and delivers superior voice coverage in rural and regional areas. Devices are tested for receiver sensitivity in a laboratory under controlled conditions and in rural areas on the Telstra Mobile Network, ensuring optimal call quality for customers.

In our handset testing facility, we’re able to simulate how you’d use a new phone as if it were being held in your hand on the very edge of a coverage area. By replicating how phones are used in the real world, we’re able to get the best results for our rural customers.

We seal handsets in our specialised echo-free chamber to ensure that tests are accurate and only the best-performing devices are awarded the prestige of carrying the Blue Tick. And to make extra sure the handset performs well, we then take it out into rural areas to replicate these test results for double-confirmation of its performance.

When you’re shopping for a new phone, make sure you look for the Blue Tick to ensure you’re getting the best network experience possible when you’re in the bush.

If you’re looking for a device that can not only keep you connected in rural areas, but also stand up to being accidentally dunked in a horse trough, we’ve got the tools for the job.

When the going gets tough

The Tough Max is back, and it’s tougher than ever. But how tough is tough? We put it to the test in our studio to find out.

We know how popular our line of Tough Max devices are – which is why we’ve got the band back together for the brand new Tough Max 3!

There’s loads to like about the new Tough Max 3, but most importantly, it’s tougher than ever before.

It’s a phone that loves getting dirty on the job. It carries an IP68-rating for dust and water resistance. Spend a day getting it filthy in the top paddock, and you can dunk it in water to clean it off! It’s can be immersed in up to 1.5 metres of water for up to 30 minutes, meaning it’s great for those little accidents.

It’s also packed with all the mod-cons, like USB-C, a fingerprint sensor for security, facial recognition and more. The facial recognition works great when you’ve got your hands dirty, allowing you to unlock the device hands-free.

You also get a dual 16-megapixel + 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera for your snaps, and a big 3920mAh battery to keep you going.

It’s not only Blue Tick-rated, it also carries an external antenna port so you can boost your coverage even more.*

And to make sure it stays pretty while you treat it mean, the Tough Max 3 comes with a screen protector in the box!

The Tough Max 3 is available from today for $499 outright, and on our 24- or 36-month repayment options on our new plans at an extra $20.79 or $13.86 per month (plus plan costs) respectively.

Under the Mobile Black Spot Program we have delivered over 640 mobile base stations. Through these investments and more, we’ve been able to add another 185,000 square kilometres of coverage for Australian communities. That’s more than twice the size of Tasmania!

When the fourth round of the Program is done and dusted, we’ll have built over 780 new sites and contributed more than $280 million to giving Australians the best network the country has to offer.

Janet Barnes joined Telstra in November, 2015 and leads a national team as the Regional Australia Executive. Janet’s diverse industry portfolio includes senior leadership positions within Pharmaceutical, FMCG and more than 10 years within the Financial Services Industry. With an Executive Masters of Business Administration, Janet is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (WA), Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and holds several board positions with the Australian Institute of Management (WA) Advisory Council, Perth Public Art Foundation and West Australian Opera.

A tour of your futuristic smart home at CES 2020

By Luke HopewellFebruary 14, 2020

2020 is the year that tech takes over your house. From the front door to the bathroom and every room in-between, tech titans are bringing the latest gadgets home for your convenience. Step inside for a look at your smart home of the future.

Welcome home, reader.

You’ve just stepped into the home of the future through a front door that features smart, NFC keys. It’s a comfortable two-bedroom in the suburbs, and thanks to the major tech manufacturers at 2020’s Consumer Electronics Show, it now has all the latest gadgets. From smart fridges to clever household robots that pick up your dog’s business (seriously).

Fancy a tour?

The kitchen

The fridge is more than just a fancy gadget. It’s helped you cut down on food waste dramatically, and has saved you so much time going to the supermarket to pick up groceries. It’s a Samsung unit with built-in Artificial Intelligence that can recognise your food.

It lets you know what you’re running out of, makes suggestions based on what you have and helps you reorder stuff when you’re out thanks to the big screen on the front. You don’t even need to add stuff to your shopping list anymore!

Speaking of food, you’re about to be treated to a dinner designed specifically for you, down to the molecular level. DnaNudge is a new service you’re using that recommends the food you should and shouldn’t be eating based on your genes.

Because you’re the type of person who retains too much salt after eating it, you’ll find nothing too salty in that new smart fridge of yours. They know everything about what’s good for you after doing a cheek swab and sending it back.

When you do have stuff you need to throw away, it’s easier than ever thanks to the Townew trashcan that automatically seals your trashbags for you for more considerate disposal without the unwanted smells.

The sink is fitted with a smart tap that you can speak to via Amazon Alexa. You can ask it to pour you a specific measure of water at a specific temperature for perfect portion control while preparing recipes, and also for cutting-down on wastage.

The bedroom

When you lie your head down at night, you won’t have to worry about your sleep apnoea or keeping your partner awake with annoying snoring. Not since you got the second-generation MOTION Pillow that is. With airbag technology, it intelligently repositions you throughout the night, so your breathing isn’t inhibited. Your phone even charges wirelessly as part of the pillow too so you can see your sleep habits as soon as you wake up.

Of course, before you go to sleep, you want to watch some stuff, and control your content without losing a smart remote in the bed sheets. That’s why you’ve got the Hachi Infinite Projector installed: a short-throw projector that turns your bedroom wall into a touchscreen.

The bathroom

Yep, there’s even tech in here for making your life easier and more connected.

The Moxie Showerhead is from Kohler, and in addition to spitting out water, it spits out tunes and the latest news thanks to an Amazon Alexa integration.

There are touchscreens inside the bathroom mirror so you can keep binge-watching your latest show while brushing with your smart toothbrush, and your lipstick shade can change daily thanks to L’Oreal’s new Perso gadget that mixes you a new shade each day based on what your favourite influencers are wearing. And your skin glows each day thanks to Neutrogena’s new Skin360 app which delivers personalised skincare for your exact needs.

But be careful on your way out: the cat’s smart litter box that analyses its stool for health problems before intelligently cleaning it up is in the corner over there.

The lounge room

Every surface in your living room – from the coffee table to the arms of the chairs – allow for your phone to be charged wirelessly in here. After all, everything in your house is controlled from your smartphone, so why risk it running low?

Plus, all your content and smart home tech is controlled via the phone as it connects to the superfast new Wi-Fi 6 modem router with intelligent cybersecurity controls built-in so the bad guys can’t easily hack your house. You can pair that with the updates to Google’s voice Assistant, which can now schedule actions, read you an article or start a call for you.

“But where’s the TV?”, your visitors might ask in puzzlement. “Oh,” you can respond modestly, “it’s integrated into the ceiling”. At the push of a button, LG’s latest rollable OLED TV unfurls from the ceiling like a projector screen without the projector to deliver dazzling colour and deep blacks.

When buying the TV, there were a lot of considerations in mind. You had to consider whether you wanted either LG’s Real 8K TV, or Samsung’s portrait-oriented Sero TV. Perhaps you even wanted to pair a TCL TV with its new sound-reflecting technology for better Dolby Atmos sound immersion. In the end, however, you decided that technology shouldn’t be the focal point of a room. Rather, it should disappear out of sight when not being used.

All in all, your new home of the future isn’t a bad place to put your feet up.

Luke Hopewell is an editor, tech expert and Senior Specialist Writer at Telstra Exchange. Luke joined Telstra in 2019 where he has had the privilege to help bring stories to life in a unique and human way. He was previously the head of editorial at Twitter Australia and the editor of cult tech site Gizmodo. For over a decade, Luke’s passion for technology has always driven him to seek out the latest gadgets and game-changers, and help others to understand how it all works. In another life he was a cyber security specialist where he sought to educate people about how to stay safe online. When he's not writing, he's getting outdoors and patting all the nice dogs he meets.